Rules on possessive nouns

[Lilibeth M. Ablanque]

Good day!

I am an English Teacher here in the Philippines. I can't help but ask you questions regarding the rules on possessive nouns. What I have been teaching is that when a singular possessive noun made up of two or more syllable ends with s ,add apostrophe only:
Ex. Dennis' guitar Maritess' blouse
When a singular possessive noun is made of one syllable only, add 's .
Ex. Cris's answer Jess's gun
However, some books published recently in the Philippines write:
If the singular possessive noun ends with s regardless of the number of syllables, add (') apostrophe only.
Other books even suggest that if the noun the noun ends with x , s or z ,just add the apostrophe only
Ex. Dax' homework Mrs. Cruz' class record

Please help me before I will make a mess . My 25 years of teaching career is at stake here.

Thank you and more power.

[Diverhank]

Here are the rules from Purdue University writing lab: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_apost.html

• add 's to the singular form of the word (even if it ends in -s):
the owner's car
James's hat

• add 's to the plural forms that do not end in -s:

the children's game
the geese's honking

• add ' to the end of plural nouns that end in -s:

houses' roofs
three friends' letters

• add 's to the end of compound words:

my brother-in-law's money
• add 's to the last noun to show joint possession of an object:

Todd and Anne's apartment

Sounds like those books are not quite right.

[Lilibeth M. Ablanque]

Thank you, diverhank...for your very quick reply, however you did not include in your reply the rules on singular nouns that are made up of two or more syllables.
For ex. Demosthenes, Maritess, Nemesis
Thanks in advance.

[Diverhank]

[Yankee]

Hi Lilibeth

The problem is that there are no 100% absolute rules for punctuation in English, and it seems there are often some fine points that even the "experts" can't agree on.
Here is something else that might you out, though:

http://www.bartleby.com/64/82.html
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Daveama]

[Daveama]

[Rainbowliselle]

I'm surprised of the changes. For years we have been taught that a name of person ending in s when use as a possessive noun will only be added by an apostrophe. say, bag of Tess = Tess' bag. Another change I spotted in the latest English book of my little boy is the possessive noun of sister-in-law. Shouldn't it be sister's-in-law instead of sister-in-law's house? Why these changes? I'm now 43. English has been my favorite subject since elementary till I graduated in college.

[Beeesneees]

Hello Rainbowliselle,

Daveama's explanation is correct, but these are not 'changes'. These rules applied when I was a child (and I'm older than you) People have simply misunderstood the differences when they have taught them.

There has been no change to the possessive noun of sister-in-law and I think you might be confusing it with the plural of sister-in-law.
Singular to Plural:
sister-in-law > sisters-in-law

Possessive singular:
sister-in-law > My sister-in-law's coat.
Possessive plural:
sisters-in-law > My sisters-in-laws' coats.
_________________
Cheers m' dears!

[Rainbowliselle]

Thank you so much for the clarification Beenees.YOu're right, I got confused with the possesive noun with that of the plural form of sisters-in-law. however, with regard to the name ending in s...i guess it will take awhile before i get used to it. i have to compare our old English books and with the new English books of my kids. Again, thank you so much :)

[Taylorswift1835]

I think your roofs should be rooves. Sorry if i am wrong, im just grade 4 student.

[Taylorswift1835]

think your roofs should be rooves. I'm just a grade 4 student. Sorry if I am wrong.

[Charles001]

Hi can somebody help regarding the prepositions, such as the following sentences, what is the correct answer? they are : 1. He came_____the salon looking quite different. (OUT OF, FROM OUT OF, BY)2. He asked me to sit_____ the commitee.(BY;FOR THE;ON;) 3. I was_____ the roadside to joburg. (ON;BY;AT;IN)4. Open the book______ page 01(FROM;AT;BY;). 5. Close the door_______ so we can talk.(IN;UP;) 6 . Put him_____for the night. 7.i'll do it ______ the weekend.(OVER;ON;AT;)

the words on brackets are the answers to choose from.

[Charles001]

Hi can somebody help regarding the prepositions, such as the following sentences, what is the correct answer? they are : 1. He came_____the salon looking quite different. (OUT OF, FROM OUT OF, BY)2. He asked me to sit_____ the commitee.(BY;FOR THE;ON;) 3. I was_____ the roadside to joburg. (ON;BY;AT;IN)4. Open the book______ page 01(FROM;AT;BY;). 5. Close the door_______ so we can talk.(IN;UP;) 6 . Put him_____for the night. 7.i'll do it ______ the weekend.(OVER;ON;AT;)

the words on brackets are the answers to choose from.

[Beeesneees]

Hello Charles,

Why don't you tell us what you think the correct answers are, then we can discuss them. You should learn more that way, than just being given the answers.
_________________
Cheers m' dears!